Month: June 2020

Tuesday (30-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown-headed Cowbird


Backyard Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Lots of flowers, almost too many to keep up with, and a couple I need to identify. Flowers of the Day: Poppies (Red, Pink, Oriental, Icelandic), Bachelor Button, Cornflower, Spiderwort, Larkspur, Chicory, Cosmos, Red Coreopsis, Delphinium, Sweet William, Thistle, Monarda citriodora, Lemon Mint Lemon Beebalm, Lemon Horsemint, Purple Horsemint, Lemon Bergamot, Foxglove, Black-eyed Susan, Plains Coreopsis, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Sunflower, Common Mullein, Yellow Prickly Pear, Yucca, Teasel, and May Apple. Supposedly, Turtles eat the seeds from May Apples since they are low to the ground. New May Apple plants then crop up where the turtle excret the seeds. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any turtles this year.


Poppies (portrait). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Poppies (landscape). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers (Blue & Purple). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers (Red or Pink). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers (Yellow). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers (White) plus May Apples. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Critters of the Day: Frogs, Squirrel, and Deer. The pond is drying out so the frogs are having to live closer together.


Kermit and his close relatives (also named Kermit). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Doe with horseflies. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 90-280 mm lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Doe with horseflies. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 90-280 mm lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel in the air. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 90-280 mm lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel in the air. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 90-280 mm lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Doe with horseflies and two fawns. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 90-280 mm lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Doe with horseflies and two fawns. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 90-280 mm lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (49.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (60.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Mixed clouds and some sun. A surplus of 11.2 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (1491 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (2080 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. A surplus of 589 kWh.


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Monday (29-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, American Goldfinch, and Turkey Vulture.


Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the Day: Purple Allium, Red Poppy, Blanket Flower, Teasel, Four O’Clock, Garlic Scapes, Delphinium, Larkspur, Garlic Scapes, Black-eyed Susan, Sunflower, Pink Poppy, and Foxglove.


Summer Flowers of the Day (portrait). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Flowers of the Day (landscape). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Critters of the Day: Squirrel, Spots the Fawn, Rabbits, and Red Fox. This was the first time since last winter that I have seen Rabbits in the backyard. Within five minutes, the Red Fox showed up and the Rabbits disappeared.


Critters (mammals) of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (66.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (83.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Lots of Sun. A surplus of 17.9 kWh.


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Sunday (28-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The late afternoon and early evening thunderstorms passed north and south of here. Image of the first quarter moon with the storm clouds to the south a little before sunset.

First Quarter Moon over Summer Thunderclouds at Dusk. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 100, 44 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
First Quarter Moon over Summer Thunderclouds at Dusk. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 100, 44 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
First Quarter Moon over Summer Thunderclouds at Dusk. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 100, 44 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
First Quarter Moon over Summer Thunderclouds at Dusk. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 100, 44 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Birds of the Day: Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. I didn’t know that the woodpeckers like fruit. When this woodpecker visited all of the other birds, including the Blue Jays left it have the birdfeeder to itself.


Early Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (57.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun with some clouds. A surplus of 17.3 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (399 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (490 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. A surplus of 91 kWh.


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Saturday (27-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, House Finch, and Brown-headed Cowbird.


Early Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Squirrel up on the birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel up on the birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Conflict at Bambi’s backyard playground as one of the fawns becomes a bully.


Bambi’s backyard playground. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Early Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Groundhog (notice the tick in its ear). Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
Groundhog (notice the tick in its ear). Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)

Early Summer Wildflowers: Yucca, Larkspur, Delphinium, Black-eyed Susan, Daisy, Red Poppy, Pink Poppy, Mexican Hat, and Teasel,


Early Summer Flowers (Portrait). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Early Summer Flowers (Landscape). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (45.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Clouds and rain. A deficit of 5.0 kWh.


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Friday (26-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: American Goldfinch, LBJ, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow. Not sure if the LBJ is a female/immature House Finch, or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird.

American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
LBJ (not sure if it is a female/immature House Finch or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
LBJ (not sure if it is a female/immature House Finch or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Early Summer Wildflowers: It appears that at least one Sunflower self-seeded, and grew high enough to bloom out of reach of the ravenous deer. I’ve seen several other sunflower plants clipped off before they could bloom. It looks like the bee (Bumblebee) likes Sunflower pollen.

Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Spent some time in the morning working on the patio Grow Towers. Still several to set up and plant.

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (78.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 25.0 kWh. The solar panels continue to produce more energy than required to keep the house cool with the energy efficient Geothermal HVAC system.


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